Pumping steam trap



y 1 H. G. SHORTT 1.719.906

' PUMPING STEAM TRAP Filed July 18, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY July9, 1929. H. G. SHORTT PUMPING STEAM TRAP Filed July 18, 1928 3Sheets-Sheet 2 wax 2W ATTnD u rv ill) Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES erie PATENT OFFICE nevi/Ann e. snonrr, or canccnaon, newYORK, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF 'IO se ne BINE; ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, or wacrnnccown, NEW

YQRK, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PUMPING STEAM TRAP.

Application. filed July 18,

This invention refers to that class of steam traps known as pumpingsteam traps, which have as their chief characteristic the automaticalternate filling and emptying of a receiver or tank with hightemperature, condensate, boiler feed water, and the like, by the actionof valve mechanism which introduccs high pressure steam into a full tankto expel the contents and then vents the expelling pressure to allow thetank to refill with water.

Among the leading objects I have in view are simplicity and economy ofconstruction, reducing the parts to as small a number as possible, andcombining them in such a way that the results may be attained easily andeffectively, with little wear and waste; and in fact the aim is toaccomplish with a simple mechanism as much or more than has heretoforebeen attained with far more complicated and intricate machinery.particular stress on the means whereby the lubricant is supplied to themoving parts of the valve mechanism in a novel manner so that the oilcannot enter the main receiver chamber and mingle with condensationwater so as to injuriously affect the boiler or its tubes.

The invention may moreover be said to consist essentially in theconstruction, combination, and arrzmgen'icnt of parts, substantially aswill be hereinafter described and claimed, including numerous detailsand peculiarities of the same and their obvious mod ilications andre-adjustments.

In the annexed drawing illustrating my invention Figure 1 is a frontelevation of my improvedv pumping steam trap.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the same on the line 2, 2, of Figure1.

Figure 3 a detail front view of certain features, some of which are insection, the view being taken on the line 3, 8, of Fig. 2.

Figure is a vertical sectional view on the line 4t, 4t, of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the secondary rotary valve which controlsthe fluid pressure for operating the main water and steam ventdischarge.

Similar characters of reference denote like parts throughout all. thedifferent figures of the drawing.

trap tank or receiver may be any I a lay 1928. Serial No. 293,719.

size, shape, design, and proportions, and may be arranged with a steamcondensation plan t or other apparatus. Thecondcnsation water flows lntothe tank at some suitable point near the bottom, as for example throughthe openng a, and at the proper time when the tank 1s full thewaterisdischarged through the same Opening a. A curved pipe is often introducedinto the bottom of the tank to adnut and discharge the water and insurea proper water seal; I have indicated such a curved pipe in myco-pending allowed application for automatic receiver pump, filedDecember 17, 1927, Serial Number 2l0.661; and with the opening ofwhatever character inlet and outlet check valves are often used, but Ihave not illustrated these, as there are many different ways, and I donot desire to be 001ifined to any specific kind of inlet and dischargeopening and valve mechanism.

. The automatic pumping of the trap tank or receiver is accomplishedthrough the agency of high pressure steam which enters the top of tank Athrough an inlet port 1 after the tank A has completely filled up withWater. This introduction of live steam pressure againstthewvater whenthetank is full has the function of expelling the water, and after this isdone the expelling steam vented to atmosphere or elsewhere reverselythrough the same port 1, so that the tank will be at liberty to refillagain with water. Tank A has a removable head plate B bolted thereto bybolts 7), and formed in front with a hollow housing or protuberamse 55,into whose interior 53 the arm 0 of float C projects through opening 54;from the tank A where the float is buoyant in the liquid in the tank,rising and falling with the varying level of said liquid. The upper partof plate B has therein a steam port 1 which joins with the port 1 in thewall of tank A to form the long port which admits to and vents steamfrom the tank A.

Supported in any convenient manner on the front face of head plate B,adjoining port 1, is a valve casing or casting (i which is shaped andchambered and ported to proviso for the reception of a main steam supplyand exhaust valve, which is nearest port 1, and also alongside of it thesecondary float-actu ated control valve which supplies the steam, air,or other fluid pressure for operating the main steam. valve and ventvalve. The main steam valve combines a steam supply valve 44 and a ventvalve 42 in a single unit on a valve stem 43 and carrying a pistonunited with the valve 42 below the latter, so that the piston 40, ventvalve 42, stem 43 and steam valve 44,.areall in one unitary solidcombination which has a vertical travel in the performance of itsseveral functions in the handling of the steam pressure which causes thetrap to pump. 7

Said casting 6 which provides these valve casings has a central chamber49, opposite to and entered by the steam port 1, see Figures 2 and 4,through which chamber passes valve rod 43. Below chamber 49 is a chamber41 occupied by the piston 40 that travels up and down, and is attachedto stem 43, and also at the top. of chamber 41 is the vent or exhaustValve 42, operating in connection with its seat 56 and controlling anopening into chamber 49 from which steam is vented into chamber 41 whenvalve 42 is open. Chamber 41 has a steam discharge pipe 10. Above thechamber 49 is'a chamber 47 in which is the steam valve 44 attached tostem 43 and operating in connection with its seat 48 tocontrol thepassage from chamber 47 into chamber 49 so as to allow steam pressure topass from chamber 47 into chamber 49 when valve 44 is open. The chamber47 has coupled thereto a steam inlet pipe 9. The lower end of casting 6below piston 40 is closed by a screw plug 38 and below saidpiston is achamber 39 which receives high pressure steam supplied by the secondarycontrol valve through port 37 to lift piston 40 in the act of closingthe vent valve and opening'the steam inlet valve. Further, the chamber47 is closed at the top by a cover 8 secured bolts to the topof casting6 and having a hollow projection in which is a sliding sleeve 52 securedto valve 44, and said sleeve contains a spring 46. lVhen the pressureunder piston 40 is withdrawn, the steam pressure in tank A acts againstthe valve 42 to open the same, and is assisted by the spring 52 in sodoing.

To open the aforesaid steam supply valve I employ a secondary controlvalve which is actuated automatically by the buoyant member in theliquid in thetank A, and this actuation of the control valve introducespressure under piston 40 to liftthe same. The special construction ofthis control valve may vary widely. It may be a rotary valve, a slidevalve, or any other suitable control means.

In the example given by way of explanation, I have illustrated a rotaryvalve which is encased in the casting 6, the details being clearly seenin Figures 2, 3, and 5. The retary valve lies in a horizontal positionwithin a sleeve or bushing 13 secured within box 59 in casting 6, only ashort distance from the unitary steam admission and vent member justdescribed. Bushing 13 has a steam port 36which enters the port 37leading to chamber 39 under piston 40; and bushing 13 also has anexhaust port 17 entering an exhaust port 18 in casting (5 which opensinto the atmosphere or elsewhere, as shown in Figure 3.

The rotary valve member proper 14 comprises a pair of discs 26, 26, on acentral body of hollow semicircular form, cut away at 11 to receivesteam, said central hollow body having a port 15 leading through it andconnecting at times with the bushing port 36, and said valve 14 havingan exhaust port 16 formed in its outer face and serving to connect thebushing port 36 with the exhaust outlet 17 when the release of fluidpressure that has opened the steam valve takes place. Also the valve 14has a round projection 57 on one end and a similar projection 58 on theother end which center the valve in its own casing or enclosure 59,which is formed on the casting 6 or otherwise applied thereto so as tobe substantially a part thereof.

The projection 58 has a slot 30 therein engaged by a tongue 29 on a disc28 on the end of a shaft 27 supported horizontally in a bearing 60 thatis screwed into the end of box or chamber 59, said shaft 27 being packedby a gland and packing nut arranged in connection with hearing 60. Theshaft 27 is a rock shaft and when rocked after it is in engagen'ientwithvalve 14, the valve may be shifted from one position into another. Steamis supplied to valve 14 through the high pressure steam or air pipe 1.2which euters the wall of casting (i and delivers its pressure through aport (ilthat runs through the wall and bushing 13 to the valve 14.

Obviously the exact shape of said hollow rotary valve 14 may vary withinwide limits, provided only it has the requisite steam and exhaust portsto deliver live steam at the proper time, and also to vent the usedsteam, in accordance with the movement of the float which transfers itsaction to the valve and shifts it back and forth at the right moment.

The float C has its arm 0 projecting through opening 54 into the far endof the enlarged boxing 55 in which it is fulcrumed on a pin 24 having asquared nut 25 cast integral thereon. The nut 25 engages the arm a sothat when the arm rises or drops it will partly rotate the pin 24. Pin24 has its inner end held in a bearing in the wall of boxing 55 and itsother portion carried by a bearing 62 which is screwed into the wall ofboxing 55, a packing gland or nut 32 being screwed upon the bearing (32to tightly pack and hold the short shaft 24, which projects outside ofboxing 55 for a short distance. Its outer end carries rigidly thereon anarm or a pair of arms 21, which are shaped as slotted links 22 to engagea pin 23 in the lower end of a connecting rod 20 which extends upwardvertically to a point near the rotary control valve.

The links 22 allow the float to have a certain amount of travel withoutaffecting the position oi? rod 20. It is only when the pin 23 is in theend of link 22 that the rod is moved by the float. The upper short shaft27 which engages the rotary valve 14 to rotate the same, has on itsouter end a rigidly attached arm 31, whose outer end is pivoted by apivot 3a in the cleft upper portion 35 of rod-20, said upper portion 35being made adjustable by the nut 33-3 so as to lengthen or shorten therod 20 in. order to regulate or change the throw of valve 14.. By theseconnections therefore the buoyant member C is enabled to rotate thevalve ll and change its position in correspondence with the action oi?member C as it rises and falls.

Lubrication oi' the valves is provided through a lubricator 2 mounted onthe valve mechanism near the rotary valve, said lubricator being carried.on an upright tube 51, whose lower end 5 screws into the top wall ofthe casting 6 and delivers oil into a port which feeds through a port 19in bushing 13 and thus reaches the interior of the retary valve 14. Theoils flows through the various steam ports and passages along with thesteam or fluid pressure and lubricates the rotary valve 14: and" thepiston 40. Itv is impossible tor theoil to miX with and contaminate thefluid prunped, either when it is flowing into or out of the tank, be-

ause during the tank filling period there is no pressure on the pistonand what oil might lie on the top oi the piston is carried oil throughpipe by the exhaust of receiver pressure, and during the dischargingperiod the vent valve is closed so that no oil can escape into thewater.

The operation of my improved trap will be clearly understood from theforegoing description of the parts without need oi lurtheramplification- \Vhile tank A is filling with water of condensation, orany fluid or liquid, from a steam plant or whatever other source, thefloat C will rise wi'ththe rising oi? the water level, until the tank isfull to the required point, and while the float is so rising, as itnears the top, the action of the lever c is drawing down the rod 20 androtate ing the rotary valve 14;, or moving any other valve means used inplace thereof, so that the port 15 will register with the port 36,

which will instantly release high pressure steam or air or other highpressure fluid from pipe 12 into port 37 and permit it to act againstpiston lt), lifting same and closing vent valve 42 at the same instantthat it. opens steam valve 44, the opening of which latter causes highpressure steam from supply pipe 9 to rush through ports 1 and 1 intoreceiver A and force out all. the aqueous contents of said receiver.through the tank discharge.

This of course makesthe water level. in

the tank to fall, and with it drops the float, until it nears the bottomof the tank or reaches the lowest normal water level, at which time, therod and rotary valve having been, actuated in a direction the reverse oftheir former movement, the valve l l cuts oil further high pressure andconnects the port 36 with the discharge port 1'7 by causing valvedischarge port 16 to cover both of said ports, so that the pressureunder piston 40 escapes back through these ports and out through port18.

When the lifting pressure under the piston. is removed, and the pressurein the receiver is applied to the vent valve 1-2 said valve will openand siiuultaneously the steam valve lat will. shut, it being noted thatthe spring 46 will assist the receiver pressure in bringing this about.Hence the steam in the receiver will exhaust through pipe 10 during thetime that the tank is again tilling, after which the valves will reversetheir action as before.

Many changes in the details and their operative relation may be madewithin the scope oi" the claims and I reserve the right to make all suchchanges within the scope oi? the claims.

hat I claim, is:

1. In a pumping trap ofthe class described, the combination ot a tankhaving an inlet and mitlet and a steam port for carrying steam into andexhausting it from the tank, a combined vertically-movable steam inletandv vent valve device provided with a stem carrying an integral piston,a casing for said valve device having a steam chamber provided with a.steam inlet and containing said steam valve, a central. chamberconnecting with the tank port and receiving steam. at one time todeliver to the tank port and at another time allowing steam from saidport to reach the exhaust. and a lower cl miber having an exhaust outletand containing the vent valve and the piston, a heatactuated controlvalve for supplying steam to move said piston oi the combined valvedevice to close the vent and open the steam valve and also forexhausting said valve-opcrating pressure, and resilient means to assistthe steam pressure in the tank to close the vent and open thesteam valveafter the water-expelling steam in the tank has been vented.

2. In a steam trap of the pumping class, the combination with. a tankhaving an inlet and outlet and a con'unon steam port for delivering intoand exhausting from the tank, a combined vertically-ni.ovable highpressure inlet and vent valve device provided with a piston, a casingfor said valve device having a live steam chamber controlled by thestream alve, a central cl'iamber connecting with the steam chamber andthe tank steam port, and lQWtI. chamber for venting controlled by tionsbetween the float and said control valve,

and means for conveying pressure from the control valve to the saidpiston to lift the same and also to carry lubricant material to saidpiston, so that any lubricant passing the piston may be caught anddischarged in the venting chamber above without entering the condensate.

3. In a pumping trap of the class described, the combination with a tankhaving an inlet and outlet, of a combined vertically-movable highpressure inlet and vent valve device provided with an integral piston, acasing for said valve device having alive steam chamber controlled bythe steam inlet valve, a central chamber connecting with the tank, and alower vent chamber containing the piston, said three chambers being in avertical line, a float-controlledcontrol valve, means for supplyingfluid pressure to be delivered by said control valve to operate thecombined steam and vent valve device, and exhaust means therefor, andmeans. for supplying a lubricant to said steam line to pass with the.steam and lubricate the control valve and the piston, so that anylubricant that passes the piston may have outlet with the venting steamthrough the vent chamber.

' 4. In a pumping trap of the class described, the combination with atank having an inlet and outlet, of a high pressure steam inlet valve, avent valve, a stem carrying both of said valves, a piston secured tosaid stem, a float-operated control valve which regulates the passage ofhigh fluid pressure to actuate said piston and the valves associatedwith it and also regulates the exhaust of such pressure, a steam-ventingchamber into which the vent valve discharges tank operating pressure,said chamber being above the piston, a lubricant container, means forcarrying lubricant mixed with steam to the control 'alve and to theunder side of the piston, so that lubricant passing the piston may bedischarged withthe steam and not reach the tank condensate.

5. In a pumping trap of the class described, the combination with a tankhaving an inlet and outlet, of a high pressure steam valve forintroducing pressure into the tank when it is full of water for thepurpose of expelling said water, an exhaust valve for exhaustingtheexpelling pressure after the water has to supplement the internaltank pressure to operate these valves at another time, a valve forcontrolling the actlon of the piston by 1ntroducing fluid pressureagainst the same, said valve having a fluid pressure inlet and a fluidpressure exhaust, a float in the tank, and means connecting the floatwith said control valve.

6. In a pumping trap of the class described, the combination with a tankhaving an inlet and outlet, of a high pressure steam valve forintroducing pressure into the tank when it is full of water to expel thesame, an exhaust valve for exhausting the expelling pressure after thewater has been expelled. a fluid pressure operated piston tor jointlyactuating said valves at one time, and a resilient means to supplementthe internal tank pressure to operate these valves at another time, avalve controlling the action of the piston by introducing fluid pressureagainst the same, said valve having a fluid pressure inlet, a lubricantinlet, and a fluid pressure exhaust. a lubri *ant supply feeding thelubricant inlet. in order that fluid pressure mingled with lubricant maypass to the valve mechanisn'i without entering the tank, a float in thetank, and means connecting the float with the control valve.

7. In a pumping trap of the class described, the combination with a tankhaving an inlet and outlet, of a high pressure steam inlet valve, a ventvalve, coupled together to work in unison, but one being open when theother is closed, a rotary control valve, a ported bushing surroundingsame. a casing supporting the bushing, having a fluid pressure inlet, anexhaust, and a passage to the steam inlet and vent valves, a float inthe tank, means whereby the float connects with and operates the controlvalve to admit fluid pressure to actuate the steam inlet and vent valvesand to exhaust fluid pressure from the control valve after the tank isdischarged of its aqueous contents.

8. In a pumping trap of the class described, the combination with a tankhaving an inlet and outlet, of a high pressure steam inlet valve, a ventvalve, both on the same stem and functioning in relation to a commonport to introduce high pressure steam into the tank to expel the waterand then to exhaust the expelling steam after the exit of the water. apiston on the stem of the valves, :1 float in the tank, a rotary controlvalve. having a fluid pressure port and an exhaust port, a bushingsurrounding it and having a. fluid pressure port and an exhaust port, acasting supporting the bushing and having a fluid pressure inlet, a portleading to the piston and an exhaust port, and means connecting thefloat with the rotary control "alve to operate the latter to supplyfluid pressure to the piston to actuate the steam and vent valves.

9. In a pumping trap ol the class described. the combination with a tankhaving an inlet and outlet, of a high pressure steam inlet valve, a ventvalve, both functioning in relati on to a common port to introduce steaminto the tank to expel the water and then to exhaust the expelling steamafter the expulsion of the water, and said valves having a con1- monstem together with a piston on said stem, a float in the tank, a rotarycontrol valve hav ing a fluid pressure port and an exhaust port, abushing surrounding it and having a fluid pressure port and an exhaustport, a casing supporting the bushing and having a fluid pressure inlet,a port leading to the piston and an exhaust port, means connecting thefloat with the rotary control valve to operate the latter to supplyfluid pressure to the piston to actuate the steam and vent valves, meansfor supplying a lubricant to mingle with the iluid pressure in thecontrol valve, so that the combined fluid pressure and lubricant mayreach the valve mechanism and act there on without contaminating thecondensate bein g handled.

10. In a pumping trap of the class deseri bed, the combination with atank having an inlet and outlet, of a steaminlet valve and a steam ventvalve for the tank, both tunctioning in relation to a common portenteril'ig the tank, a piston connected with said valves for movingthem, a secondary fluid pressure rotary control valve supplying fluidpressure to actuate said piston, said valve consisting oi a hollowcylinder having parallel discs and a cutaway portion and also having afluid pressure port and an exhaust port, a bushing onclosing the valveand having a fluid pressure and an exhaust port, a valve casing carryingthe bushing and having a fluid pressure inlet, a fluid pressure outletto the piston, a fluid pressure exhaust and an oil inlet, a float in thetank which rises and falls with the water level, and having an arm, apin in the tank wall on which the arm is fulcrumed, levers on said armsand on the rotary valve, a part of same having slotted links to permitthe float arm to have a certain range of movement without disturbing therotary valve, and an :uljustable link connection between rotary alve armand the arms on the fulcrum pin, all arranged so that the float maycontrol the flow and exhaust of the fluid pressure that operates thepiston, and resilient means operating to move the steam and vent valvesin a direction opposite to that in which they are moved by the piston.

11. In a pumping trap of the class described, the combination of a tankhaving an inlet and outlet, and a steam port, or ported head plate whoseport connects with the tank port, a combined steam inlet and vent valvehaving a common stem and a piston 011 said stem, a valve casing for saidcombined valve having a steam inlet chamber and seat therein for steamvalve, a middle combined steam inlet and vent chamber opening into theaforesaid port, and a vent chamber containingpiston and vent valve andseat for the latter, said steam chamber and said vent chamber C01nn'nmicating with the middle chainberas the valves open and close, and asecondary rotary control valve having a fluid pressure port and anexhaust port, a bushing containing said rotary valve and having a fluid.pressure port and an exhaust port, a valve casing for said rotary valvehaving a fluid pressure inlet, an oil inlet, an exhaust outlet and afluid pressure port leading to the piston chamber, a float in the tank,an arm thereon, a fulcrum hung in the head plate for said arm, andleverage means connecting said arm with the rotary valve and adapted torotate the same during the movements of the float on the water level soas to control the passage and exhaust of the operating fluid pressurefor the combined steam inlet and vent valve mechanism.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my sigi'iature.

HOWARD Gr. SHOP/PT.

